The Future of Non-Utility Generation

The business of designing, constructing and operating non-utility owned electric power plants continues to evolve into the 1990s. The industry is consolidating as smaller market participants are forced out by the substantial development cost. The new Clean Air Act amendments will not adversely affect the ability of non-utility generators to compete with utilities, and in fact may create new opportunities in markets that have previously been dormant. Activity will vary substantially by region, and the Southeast and the Pacific Northwest will become the new hot markets. Natural gas will continue to be the fuel of choice, but coal will begin to re-emerge as a competitive alternative.